Record run chase a confidence booster for England: Root

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) England’s star batsman Joe Root said that team’s astonishing 230-run record chase against South Africa in the World Twenty20 cricket tournament will give the side a lot of confidence to do even better in the forthcoming matches.

Batting first on Friday, the Proteas posted a commendable 229/4 in 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries each from Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy and Quinton de Kock.

In reply, England opener Jason Roy struck a quickfire 43 off 16 which was followed by Root’s match-winning 83 off 44 that helped the team chase down the total as they posted 230/8 in 19.4 overs at the Wankhede Stadium here.

This was the second-best run-chase in T20 Internationals and best in World T20 history. England lost to the West Indies in their first match and came into this game in a must win situation.

“That was a very positive result for us. Obviously in the half-way stage we were up against it but the fact that we can pull off performances like that with the bat will give us a lot of confidence as we go further in the group stages and in the tournament as well,” Root said at the post-match press conference here.

Root pointed out that the start given by openers was a much needed one when chasing such a big total.

Openers Roy and Alex Hales (17 off 7) got England off to a flying start putting on a blistering 48-run partnership for the opening wicket in just 2.3 overs.

“We have always got a chance in this format of the game with the quality of players we got in our dressing room there. We knew that we have depth in our batting and if we get a good start which we did, we are more than capable of winning that game. Without that start that would have been difficult for us, the guys did a fantastic job,” he said.

The 25-year-old said that England might have chased down 230, but the team is yet to produce its best performance.

“The best thing about today is that it wasn’t our complete performance as we didn’t play our absolutely best and we can still win a game chasing down a total like that,” he said.

“So that will give the squad a massive performance going further into the tournament, regardless be it with bat or ball. Hopefully this will give us a momentum to go through into the group stage.”

The talented right-handed batsman rated his knock as his best in the shortest format of the game, considering it being in the World T20.

“Definitely it was the best performance for me in this format of the game and to do it in a World Cup it is very special for me personally. So I can’t wait to get back to the dressing room and celebrate with the boys,” Root concluded.